Beet-harvester.



J. L. SIBGWARTH.

BERT HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. a, 1914.

R0 m m fi W F m NW N wnfi A MW m L i g m m u L Di n J MN 1 JUHHQ 1 m %N n H -Nh AN 7 HE NORRIS PETERS C0,, PHOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON D. C,

J. L. SIEGWARTH.

' BERT HARVESTEB.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, 1914. 1,127,299, Patented Feb.2,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 ,THE NORRIS PETERS CD-.PHOTO-L|THO., WASHINGTON, D C.

J. L. SIEGWARTH.

BEET HARVE$TER.

APBLIOATION FILED MAE. a, 1914 Patented Feb. 2,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ENT union,

JOHN LEWIS SIEGWARTH, OF CI-IEHALIS, WASHINGTON.

BEET-I-IARVESTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

Application filed March 3, 1914. Serial No. 822,229.

i To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. SIEGWARTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ghehalis, in the county of Lewis and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Beet-Harvesters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in harvesters and resides in the provision of a reliable and eflicient harvester which will operate to dig and top the beets in a most expeditious manner.

An important object of my invention is to provide a harvester of the character described which comprises novel means for carrying the beets from the digging mechanism to the topping knife, said means being operatively connected by suitable gearing with the supporting wheels for the frame.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a beet harvester of the character described which is simple as to construction, reliable and efficient in operation and cheap to manufacture.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out as claimed.

With reference to the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts,Figure 1 is a top plan view showing my harvester as it would appear when in assembled position, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the means for carrying the beets from the digging mechanism to the topping knife in side elevation, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing my harvester as it would appear when in assembled position, Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line ll of Fig. Q'showing the detail construction of the means for carrying the beets to the topping knife from the digging means, and Fig. 5 is an end elevation of a portion of the means for carrying the beets from the digging to the cutting means.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the numeral 1 designates a frame consisting of a plurality of spaced longitudinal bars 2 and end bars 3. A pair of traction wheels l are mounted upon an axle 5 that is secured to the frame, and supports the frame 1 at the rear and mounted upon an aXle 6 in front of the frame are wheels 7. Suitable draft gear not shown may be operatively connected with the vehicle comprising the frame and frame wheels.

As a means for digging the beets I provide curved plow blades 8 and 9 that are arranged in converging relation at their forward terminals but sufliciently spaced at that point to enable the grasping of the beets therebetween. The curved plow blades are supported by means of supporting bars 10. The bars 10 are disposed in a vertical plane and secured at their lower ends in any suitable manner to the rear ends of the plow blades 8 and 9 and are provided adjacent their upper terminals with longitudinal slots 11. Adjacent to the forward part of the frame and upon certain of the longitudinal bars 2 are bolts 12 that are mounted within the slots 1]. and have nuts 13 on their threaded terminals. The bolt and slot connection described enables the vertical adjustment of the plow blades 8 and 9 so that they may be drawn upwardly in a position in spaced relation to the ground. A bell crank l-l is pivoted on or adjacent to the forward end bar 3 and has upon its forward or outer end a foot plate 15. The other end of the lever ll is provided with a longitudinal slot 16 in which is mounted a pin 17 that is fixed upon one of the bars 10. Transverse connecting bars are employed to connect the supporting bars 10 and it will be readily seen that upon the depression of the foot plate 15 the plow blades will be moved out of engagement with the ground in spaced realtion thereto. Suitable means not shown may be employed to hold the blades 8 and 9 in spaced relation to the ground.

As a means for positioning the blades 8 and 9 forwardly or rearwardly so that the pitch thereof is changed and the depth of their digging is adjusted, I provide in connection with each supporting bar a longitudinal adjusting bar 18 that is pivoted at one end as at 19 intermediate the ends of the bars 10 and provided at its other end with a longitudinal slot 20.

Pins 21 slidable in slots 22 in the rear bolster for the axle 5 extend into and through the slot in the bars 18. The lower edges of the bars 18 are recessed to provide a plurality of teeth 23. The teeth 23 are arranged to lock against the axle 5 to hold the bars 18 against rearward movement and provide a. secure support for the plow blades 8 and 9.. To adjust the bars 18 and likewise the plow blades 8 and 9, the bars 18v are lifted by means of the pin and slot connection with the bolster for the, axle 5 until the teeth 23 are spaced from the axle 1 of the supporting bars 10 and bars 18.

As a means for disposing the beets in a position whereby they will be readily engaged by the lifting means which will be later described, I provide a pair of arms 24. The arms 24 are carried by the plow blades 8 and 9 and extend rearwardly and up-- wardly in an inclined plane therefrom. The arms 24 are spaced sufliciently to enable the beets to be pushed by the other beets toward the outer edge thereof whereby the lifting means will be brought into operation.

As a means for removing the beets from the bars 24 and forcing them into engagement with a topping knife, I provide a circular disk or wheel 25 that is mounted upon a shaft 26 which is journaled transversely of the frame 1, at a point approximately centrally of the ends thereof.

A. gear wheel 27 is fixed upon one of the rear wheels 4 and meshes with a similar gear wheel 28 mounted upon a stud shaft that is fixed within the frame. Operatively connected with the gear wheel 28 is a sprocket 29 having a chain 30 mounted thereon. The chain 30 is also mounted upon a sprocket wheel 31 that is loosely journaled upon the adjacent end of the shaft 26 and hasoperatively connected therewith one of a pair of clutch members designated 32. The other clutch member 33 is splined upon the shaft 26 and may be operated by any suitable means not shown. It will be readily seen that the shaft 26 with the disk or Wheel 25 thereon will be rotated through the medium of the gearing described.

As a means for gripping or clamping the beets and disposing them in engagement with a topping knife, I provide upon the disk or wheel 25 upon one face thereof, a plurality of gripping fingers 34. These gripping fingers 34 are arranged radially about the disk or wheel 25 and each consists of an arm 35 that is pivoted at its inner end to a hub portion 36 carried upon one side of the disk or wheel 25. Mounted on the end of each rod 35 is an arcuate gripping plate 37 that cotiperates with a rim or ridge 38 formed on the periphery of the disk or wheel 25 upon one side thereof. The rim or ridge 38 and plates 37 act as clamping jaws in holding and gripping the beets. As a means for forcing the plates 37 into gripping engagement with the beets and coeperation with the ridge or rim 38 I provide in connection with each arm 35 a helical retractile spring 39- secured at its ends to the intermediate portion of the rods 35 and adj acent face of the disk 25. I also provide in connection with each rod 35 a pair of guide pins 40 that are secured upon the disk 25 and receive between them the arms 35.

- A downwardly and forwardly inclined plate 41 is secured upon the rear of the frame 1. This plate 4.1 is secured in any suitable manner and is rigid with the frame 1. As a means for disposing the clamping plates 37' in a position whereby they will clamp the beets that are disposed adjacent the ends of the arms or rods 24, I provide an arcuate bar or plate 42 that is fixed in engagemen-t with the face of the disk 25 that carries the fingers 34. Bolts 43 and 44 are secured to the plate 41 and to the bar or plate 42 and support the plate or bar 42 in the desired position. The uppermost end of the plate 42 is chamfered as at 45 so as to provide for the riding thereover by the bars 35. The disk -25 rotates in the direction opposite to the'line of draft for the vehicle and when the rods 35 move toward the chamfered end 45 of the bar or plate 42 they ride up over the plate 42' and when moving out of engagement with the plate or bar 4-2 are in such a position as to clamp the tops of the beets that are disposed adjacent the rear end of the bars 24. The lower end of the bar or plate 42 is considerably spaced from the adjacent face of the disk or wheel 25 thus a proper clamping action is insured with relation to the plates 37 and rim 38. The springs 39 act to force the plates 37 into gripping cotiperation with the beet tops and rim- 38.

An-upstanding frame 46 is mounted upon the main frame 1 and consists of a pair of vertical bars that are connected at their upper ends by a transverse bar. A. topping knife 47 is secured at one end intermediate the ends of the transverse bar of the frame 46 and is approximately V-shaped and disposed over the disk in closest relation thereto at its free end. The knife 47 is preferably constructed of some resilient metal so that the proper giving or yielding thereof is had with relation to the cutting operation. As the beets are carried by the disk 25 upwardly they are inverted and disposed between the arms formed on the V-shaped knife 47. As the disk continues to rotate the tops are severedfrom the beets and the beets roll to the sides of the knife. It will be readily seen that the beets will be severed from the tops by means of the knife i7.

A foot board 18 is provided at the forward part of the frame 1 and has arranged adjacent thereto a drivers seat 49. The drivers seat 49 is disposed above the free end of the knife 47.

As a means for collecting the beets that have been topped so that they may be dumped when a suitable quantity is collected, I provide upon opposite sides of the topping knife a7, a downwardly and out wardly inclined trough 50. The troughs 50 are continued in a downwardly and rearwardly inclined plane and provided at their outer ends with discharge spouts 51. Each trough 50 is provided adjacent its upper end with an extension 52 that covers one arm formed on the V-shaped knife 47 adjacent the lower end of the knife so as to deflect beets that may slide downwardly upon the knife into the trough. The trough 50 may be secured in any suitable manner upon the sides of the frame 1. Suspended by suitable frames 53 that are securedlto the rear aXle 5 is a pivoted receptacle 54; which is rectangular and extends the width of the frame. This receptacle 5 1- is pivoted on the frame 53 and provided with an extension lug or arm 55 at its front wall. A rod 56 is pivoted with the extension 55 and connected by a pin and slot connection designated 57 with one end of a bell crank 58. This bell crank 58 pivoted on the sides of the frame 1 and at its other end is pivoted with a rod 59.

The rod 59 is connected at its other end with the intermediate portion of a lever 60 that is pivoted upon the frame adjacent to the drivers seat 49. Suitable lever latching mechanism designated 61 as an entirety is carried by the rod of the lever 60 and operates in the usual. manner.

It will be readily seen that the beets after having their tops cut therefrom are guided to the receptacle 54- by means of the troughs 50 and when a suitable quantity of beets is collected within the receptacle 5 the dumping of the receptacle may be readily had through the medium of the lever 60 and bars and links described.

In operation the plow blades 8 and 9 are positioned so that they dig into the ground upon opposite sides of the row of beets and the beets are caused by the forward moven'ient of the harvester to slide upwardly between and upon the bars or rods 24-. As the harvester is drawn across a field the disk or wheel 25 is caused to rotate through the medium of the gearing that is connected with one of the traction wheels 4. As the disk or wheel 25 is rotated'it moves in a direction opposite to the line of draft to the harvester and the plates 87 carried upon the arms 35 clamp the beet tops and remove the beets from the bars or rods 24. The beets are carried upwardly to the topping knife a7 and the tops are severed therefrom whereby the beets fall into the trough 50 and are guided to the receptacle 5%. When the receptacle is sufficiently filled the operator by manipulation of the lever 60 brings about the dumping of the receptacle and the beets are deposited in a neat pile adjacent to the row that is operated upon. The blades 8 and 9 may be readily adjusted to dig or plow to the desired depth as previously described.

It will be readily seen with reference to the foregoing description and accompanying drawings that I have provided a reliable and eiiicient beet harvesting device that will operate to dig and top beets in a reliable and expeditious manner.

In practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is the most efficient and practical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as set forth.

What is claimed is 1. A beet harvester including a frame, a disk rotatably mounted on said frame, an annular rim formed on said disk on one face and at a point adjacent to the periphery thereof, and a plurality of clamping members pivoted on the disk and extending radially from the center thereof, and coiiperating with the rim.

2. A beet harvester including a frame, a disk rotatably mounted upon the frame, a plurality of clamping members pivoted on said disk, an annular rim formed on one face of said disk at a point adjacent to the periphery thereof and coiiperating with the clamping members, spring means to hold the clamping members in engagement with the rim, and means carried by the frame to move said clamping members away from the rim at a predetermined point relative to the frame during rotation of the disk.

3. A beet harvester including a frame, a circular disk rotatably mounted in the frame, means to rotate the disk, said disk having an annular rim on one face thereof at a point adjacent to its periphery, arms pivoted adjacent to the center of and extending radially from the center of the disk, clamping plates carried on the outer ends of said arms and engaging said rim, spring means to hold said clamping plates in engagement With the rim, an arcuate bar, bolts secured to the bar and frame, and supporting said bar in engagement With said disk 10 between the arms and the disk and at a point on one side of the disk so as to move said plates in engagement with the rim when the disk is rotated.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN LEWIS SIEGWARTH.

Witnesses:

P. SUMMERsETT, JOHN SIEGWARTH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five .cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

